FABIO BASSIGNANA IS WORLD CHAMPION!
ITALY WINS THE TEAM RELAY 13 YEARS LATER
A rainbow jersey that also carries the colours of KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM. Fabio Bassignana is Team Relay World Champion with the Italian National Team: as the final rider in the Italian relay squad, he crosses the finish line with his arms raised and brings Italy back to the top step of the World Championship podium in the discipline after 13 years.
The Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole delivered unforgettable emotions for KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM. On the traditional course in Trentino, modified in several sections to make the track even more technical and spectacular, our riders proudly represented the Italian National Team.
Five team athletes were selected to wear the Italian colours: Marika Celestino, Nicole Azzetti, Fabio Bassignana, Giulio Peruzzo and Riccardo Fasoli.
Bassignana crowned World Champion in the Team Relay
The World Championship week could not have started any better, with the Team Relay. Under-23 rider Fabio Bassignana was part of the six-rider squad selected to represent Italy in the relay.
It was a perfect team performance, with every athlete giving their all to put the next rider in the best possible position. The outstanding work of the entire squad allowed Fabio, Italy’s final relay rider, to fight for victory in the decisive leg aboard his KTM Scarp Evo II.
Bassignana completed the work of his teammates and entered the finishing straight in the lead: arms in the air, Italy are World Champions!
It was an especially significant victory, bringing the Team Relay World Championship title back to Italy after 13 years.
“It is difficult to describe what I felt when I realised I could reach the finish line and raise my arms wearing the National Team jersey,” said Fabio Bassignana. “This title belongs to the whole team. Every one of us gave everything in our own leg, and I had the honour and responsibility of finishing the job. Becoming World Champion in front of the Val di Sole crowd is an emotion I will carry with me forever. I would like to thank the National Team, my teammates and KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM for all the work behind this result.”
Great satisfaction also for Fabrizio Pirovano, team owner of KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM:
“Seeing Fabio cross the finish line with his arms raised while wearing the Italian jersey was an incredible emotion. A World Championship title rewards the athlete, but also the work, passion and sacrifices made every single day. Fabio once again showed his value, and we are proud that one of our riders helped bring Italy back to the top of the world in the Team Relay after 13 years. It is a victory that we also feel partly ours and one that gives us even more motivation to continue investing in young riders.”
Azzetti and Fasoli show character in the Junior races
In the Junior Women’s race, Nicole Azzetti got off to a good start, but midway through the race another rider made a mistake with her line and collided with her, causing Nicole to crash.
Nicole managed to get back on her bike and, refusing to give up, recovered several positions to finish her World Championship in 24th place.
In the Junior Men’s race, Bergamo-born Riccardo Fasoli was on the start line in his first year in the category. Starting from the back of the field, he was further delayed in the opening stages by a crash involving several riders ahead of him and found himself practically in last position.
From that moment on, his determination and fighting spirit came to the fore. Pedal stroke after pedal stroke, Riccardo produced an impressive comeback and, with two laps remaining, had climbed to 18th place. In the final stages, the effort and a little inexperience took their toll, but he completed a race full of character, finishing 25th.
Celestino fights back in the Under 23 race
Bergamo-born Marika Celestino tackled the Under 23 race with determination, aiming to represent the Italian jersey in the best possible way.
After using the opening lap to get a feel for the particularly demanding course, Marika gradually increased her pace and began her comeback. Lap after lap, she gained positions before crossing the finish line in 24th place.
At the finish, there was also time to congratulate her Italian National Team teammate Valentina Corvi, who claimed the Under 23 World Champion’s rainbow jersey.
Bassignana and Peruzzo fight to the very end
In the Men’s Under 23 race, Italy lined up, among others, two KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM riders: Italian Champion Fabio Bassignana and Giulio Peruzzo.
Fabio made a strong start and immediately moved into the top ten. Peruzzo, meanwhile, was unlucky: after just 100 metres he was caught up in a crash and was forced to restart virtually from the back of the field.
Midway through the opening lap, Bassignana also had to deal with an unexpected setback. A momentary lapse in concentration caused him to slip and crash. Fabio hit his thigh hard and also broke two spokes in the impact. Despite the pain and the mechanical issue, the newly crowned Team Relay World Champion got back up and continued.
He lost several positions and had to manage the pain, but giving up was never an option: he wanted to make it to the finish and once again honour the Italian jersey. He completed the race in 18th place.
Giulio Peruzzo also produced an outstanding comeback. After the incident at the start, Giulio raced with great determination, recovering position after position with every lap. He crossed the finish line in 16th place and as the first Italian rider, completing a World Championship full of character for KTM PROTEK ELETTROSYSTEM.
“We return from Val di Sole with a World Championship title and with five riders who gave everything for the National Team,” concluded Fabrizio Pirovano. “Beyond the results, I am proud of the way they raced. Nicole, Riccardo, Marika, Giulio and Fabio never gave up, even when crashes, problems and fatigue made their races more difficult. That is the mentality we want to see in our athletes. And of course, the World Championship title Fabio won in the Team Relay makes this World Championship unforgettable for our entire team.”